The summer job market for teens has been shrinking for years — but 2025 looks like the tipping point. Outplacement research firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas projects just 790,000 teen jobs will be filled this summer, the fewest since records have been kept.

Economists at the firm cite a perfect storm: employers pulling back on seasonal hiring due to tariff-related uncertainty, gas prices that make operating and commuting more expensive, automation quietly replacing traditional entry-level roles, and a wave of older workers who aren't retiring — and are competing directly with teens for the same positions.

Teen Summer Jobs: Then vs. Now

A Decade Ago

• Strong Hiring Outlook Retailers & restaurants reliably hired teens
• Low gas prices made commuting affordable
• Limited competition from older workers
• Few automated checkout or ordering systems

Summer 2025

• Record Low Hiring Outlook Fewest projected openings ever recorded
• High gas prices strain both employers and commuters
• Workers 55+ staying in workforce longer
• Self-checkouts, kiosks replacing entry-level roles

Transportation is emerging as a particularly thorny problem — and not just because gas is expensive. Many teens, especially in urban Cleveland neighborhoods and inner-ring suburbs, don't have reliable access to a car or a parent who can drive them. That cuts off entire job categories that aren't near RTA lines.

In Arizona, an experimental partnership between autonomous vehicle company Waymo and a local Boys & Girls Club is offering free rides to teens heading to summer jobs. It's a creative fix for a real problem — one that Cleveland's own youth workforce programs may eventually need to address.

Not everyone has that, so we want to level the playing field.Josh Stine, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley — on free Waymo rides for teen workers

How Teen-Friendly Is Each Job Type in 2025?

Is This Teen Ready to Land a Job?

Five quick questions. Get a personalized readiness score.

Does the teen have a resume or job application ready to go?

• Yes, polished and ready — Great. A resume — even a simple one — shows employers you're serious.
• Working on it — Get it done this week. WorkSource Ohio offers free teen resume help.
• No resume yet — Start today. Cleveland Public Library's Digital Hubs offer free computer access and guidance.

Does the teen have at least one adult reference (teacher, coach, neighbor)?

• Yes, two or more — References are a differentiator. Let them know they may get a call.
• One reference lined up — One is enough to start. Ask a teacher or coach this week.
• Not yet — Think about coaches, teachers, or neighbors. Anyone who can vouch for your reliability.

If the teen is under 16, do they have an Ohio work permit?

• Yes / Teen is 16+ — Ohio teens 14–15 need a work permit. You're all set.
• No — didn't know this was required — Ohio requires a Minor Work Permit for teens under 16. Get one through your school or the Ohio Department of Commerce.
• Not sure — Check with your school counselor. The permit is free and takes about a week to process.

How many places has the teen applied so far this summer?

• 5 or more — Volume matters. Keep going — the market is competitive but persistence pays off.
• 1–4 applications — Double down. Apply to 10+ places to improve your odds in this market.
• Haven't started yet — The earlier you start, the better. Summer hiring decisions happen in May and June.

Is the teen open to gig-style or self-employed work (lawn care, babysitting, content creation)?

• Yes, definitely open to it — Smart. These paths have low competition and can pay well — especially lawn care and childcare.
• Maybe, depending on what it is — Worth exploring. Platforms like Care.com and neighborhood apps make it easy to get started.
• Prefers traditional employer jobs only — That's fine — but the traditional market is tighter than ever. Keep your options open.

Some cities aren't waiting for the market to fix itself. Denver is paying teens a $250 bonus on top of their wages if they secure and hold a summer job. The city's mayor calls it a 'three-for-one deal' — teens gain real-world skills, earn money to support themselves or their families, and explore career paths before graduation.

Cleveland doesn't have a formal city bonus program yet, but local organizations like YouthBuild Cleveland, Towards Employment, and the Cuyahoga County summer youth employment initiative do connect teens with subsidized jobs and paid internships. The key is knowing where to look.

Cleveland-Area Teen Job Resources at a Glance

• 16 — Minimum Age
• $10.45 — Ohio Min. Wage
• 10 — Apps Recommended
• June — Best Time to Apply

Teen Job Myths — Fact-Checked

AI is the main reason teens can't find jobs.

Verdict: mostly false

Automation (kiosks, self-checkout) plays a role, but research points more to older workers staying in the labor force longer and tariff-driven employer pullback as the bigger forces squeezing teen hiring in 2025.

Teens can only work traditional jobs like fast food and retail.

Verdict: false

Content creation is a legitimate and growing income source for teens. Lawn care, babysitting, and pet sitting also remain strong — and have less competition than traditional employer roles right now.

Ohio teens under 16 can't legally work.

Verdict: false

Ohio allows 14 and 15-year-olds to work with a Minor Work Permit. Hours are limited (no late nights, no hazardous work), but plenty of summer jobs are available to younger teens.

Summer jobs don't really matter for a teen's future.

Verdict: false

Research consistently shows teens with early work experience earn more in their 20s and 30s, are more likely to hold stable employment, and develop soft skills — punctuality, communication, problem-solving — that school alone doesn't teach.

Cleveland Teen's Summer Job Action Plan

1. Get Your Work Permit (if under 16) — Ohio requires a Minor Work Permit for teens 14–15. Contact your school's guidance office or the Ohio Department of Commerce. It's free and takes about a week.
2. Build a One-Page Resume This Week — List school activities, volunteer work, and skills. Cleveland Public Library's Digital Hubs offer free computer access. WorkSource Ohio at 1350 Euclid Ave offers free resume coaching.
3. Apply to 10+ Places — Including Non-Traditional Options — Don't limit yourself to malls and fast food. Lawn care, babysitting (Care.com), camp counseling, and social media management for small local businesses are all legitimate paths.
4. Check Cleveland's Youth Employment Programs — YouthBuild Cleveland, Towards Employment, and Cuyahoga County's summer youth initiative offer subsidized jobs, paid internships, and job-readiness training — often with built-in transportation help.
5. Plan Your Transportation NOW — Don't wait until you get hired to figure out how you'll get there. Map your RTA route, talk to parents about drop-off logistics, or identify neighbors who work near potential job sites.

Cleveland-Area Teen Job Resources

• YouthBuild Cleveland: Paid construction and trades training for teens and young adults ages 16–24.
• Towards Employment: Career coaching, job placement, and connections to local employers hiring teens.
• GCRTA Youth Fare Program: Reduced transit fares for students. Check the RTA website for eligibility and pass options.
• Ohio Minor Work Permit: Required for teens ages 14–15. Free to obtain through your school or the Ohio Dept. of Commerce.
• Cleveland Public Library Digital Hubs: Free computer access and job application support at branches across the city.

Why Are Older Workers Competing With Teens?

One of the most significant — and underreported — forces squeezing teen employment is the presence of older workers who simply aren't leaving the workforce. Inflation, reduced retirement savings after recent market volatility, and healthcare costs are keeping workers in their 50s and 60s in jobs that might have once cycled to younger applicants.

This isn't just a problem at the top of the job ladder. Part-time and seasonal retail, warehouse, and service roles are increasingly filled by workers who want supplemental income. From an employer's perspective, older workers often bring reliability and experience that first-time teen workers can't match — making it harder for young people to get that crucial first foot in the door.

Economists call this 'experience lock' — when entry-level jobs require more than entry-level experience. The irony is that teens need jobs to gain experience, but can't get jobs without experience. Youth-focused programs like those run by Cuyahoga County and nonprofits like Towards Employment are specifically designed to break that cycle.

Sources & References

• Primary source: news — Stephanie Liebergen
• Challenger, Gray & Christmas — Annual summer teen employment forecast projecting 790,000 jobs in 2025 — fewest on record
• Ohio Department of Commerce — Industrial Compliance Division — Minor labor laws, work permit requirements, and hour restrictions for Ohio teens ages 14–15
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Teen labor force participation trends and seasonal employment patterns
• City of Denver Office of the Mayor — Denver summer youth employment bonus program — $250 incentive for teen workers
• WorkSource Ohio / OhioMeansJobs — Youth employment resources, resume assistance, and job placement programs in Cuyahoga County